Meher reaches in front of the hospital and stares up towards the building. She knows she is about to meet him. She will have to face him. A knot forms in her throat. She gets nervous! She suddenly wants to run back to her home. Why didn't she listen to her sisters and skipped coming to hospital today? Why?

She knows the reason very well - Naushad!

She knows that it would be next to impossible for her to face him today. Of course he knows nothing about what she went through, hours ago. But she knows! How after knowing everything would she be able to meet his eyes? But what's the big deal in looking into his eyes Meher? There in the hospital are surely many other people as well apart from him; especially many other male doctors, are you scared of meeting them as well?

Yes she certainly is! She would hate to even stand close to any male co-doctors! It would be difficult for her to trust anyone now! But with Dr. Rizvi, it is different! She is ashamed and nervous about what he might think if he discovers the truth? What if he stops talking to her?

The mere thought of his refraining to talking to her all over again like old times, sends shivers down her spine! She doesn't want to return to point zero (0) with him!

But at the same time, she is craving to see him. Her throbbing heart will get rest only when he comes in front of her. She is feeling she has betrayed his trust in her and only if he talks to her politely will she get relaxed, hence she is here today, not wanting to delay meeting him!

Shutting her eyes tight she shakes her head and clears her mind. Sighing, she opens her eyes and looks towards the hospital. Taking a deep breath she enters!

Whilst wearing her white coat, she enters the room where she knows her class would be conducted. The moment she enters Naushad stares her. His heart skips a beat. She is finally there for whom he was waiting since.... what feels like ages!

Walking ahead Dr. Naushad taunts her playfully, smiling a little,

"Ayiye! Sirf teen ghanta late! Par shukriya apne aney ki zehmat to uthayi!",

saying so he looks towards her, his hands tugged into the pockets of his trousers.

By now they are walking together followed by other interns.

"Sorry Dr. Rizvi! Khala ki mehndi hai, unki madad kar rahi thi!",

Meher makes excuse, her eyes cascaded down out of hesitation, especially because she is lying to him!

Naushad looks towards her, hearing her carefully.

"Raat ko bhi hospital se seedhe ghar mein hi chali gayi!",

she deliberately says this. Or rather it's her feeling of guilt that makes her to clarify herself without being asked to do that!

Naushad of course having no idea about what all she went through takes her excuse as real. But he also finds her demeanor and her behaviour odd! Where is that stubborn, witty Meher that he knows?

They reach one patient and asks Dr. Khan to start with his work of explanation about the case of the child. Dr. Khan takes over.

Naushad and Meher stand just in front of the bed of the patient on either side, maintaining a gap between them. But both of them completely aware of each other's presence! Where on one hand Meher bites her nails, out of nervousness, wanting this practical class to end so that she could get away from Naushad, there on the other hand Naushad not focusing on the explanation of Dr. Khan looks towards Meher, sheepishly. He still feels her getting aloof, away from him. She certainly is not behaving normal today! She hasn't even looked towards him yet! She never does that. In fact she makes sure to look at him, the first thing she does after coming to the hospital.

Meher who thinks that she does it very cleanly, without letting anyone know about it, fails to know that Naushad knows it all! Nothing is hidden from him!

But at this moment, Naushad is somewhat certain, that something surely is hidden from him! What, he needs to unravel!

~*~*~

Fatima's husband happens to come to Dr. Rizvi to get his blood pressure checked.

"Bohot hi sangeen symptoms hai professor sahab!",

says Dr. Naushad, seriously.

Fatima's would be husband gets nervous and stares Dr. Naushad.

"Shadi ki excitement aur...",

Dr. Naushad pauses to increase the tension, then adds,

"Gas!",

and laughs silently.

This makes the Professor to sigh in relief.

He laughs finally, while Dr. Naushad gets busy in writing the prescription.

"Wo... aaj lunch panch baje hua na. Ah.. kyunki Fatima aur main Srinagar se aatey aatey late ho gaye!",

says the Professor.

His innocent confession skips Naushad's heartbeat! He stops preparing the prescription and looks towards Professor in astonishment, knitting his brows.

"Aaj aap dono shehr mein nahi the?",

asks Naushad, politely. Inside his heart beats frantically, hoping that he somehow says that Fatima was there!

But alas! his reply doesn't seem to be very welcoming to Naushad,

"Abhi-abhi wapas aye the! Dargah gaye the!"

Still unable to believe that Meher lied to him, that too for no apt reason which he could think of, makes Naushad to go numb and into a deep thinking about why she lied to him?

"Aap aaj shaam ko aa rahe hain na?",

asks the Professor.

This drags Naushad's attention, he looks towards him. Realizing that he cannot show in front of him that he is tensed, he quickly replies,

"Ji...?? Ji Zarur!",

plastering a smile on his face.

He hands over the prescription to the Professor, thinking about Meher throughout.

Patting on his back lovingly, Professor gets to leave, saying,

"Theek hai milte hain!"

~*~*~

Getting opportunity to be alone, Meher walks towards the canteen whilst unwrapping the packet of contraceptive pills. She empties the packet and quickly puts the medicines into her coat's pocket deciding to put them into a small jar as she reaches back home. She realizes that keeping the packet in her home would be risky! If she puts the tablets in a small jar or bottle, no one would much pay attention to it.

Doing so, she discards the empty packet of the pills into an empty trash box.

She enters the canteen to get water. Taking a glass of water she decides to sit there, wanting to rest for some moments as she is aware soon she'll again have to get busy and won't get time to sit and rest. She occupies an empty table in the canteen.

She gulps the tablet quickly. She prays that it does it's work perfectly! She stays there for sometime that way, thinking about everything that happened with her!

"Dr. Mirza!"

Naushad's sudden voice skips Meher's heartbeat. Her heart starts beating frantically. Quickly gaining back her equilibrium, she makes sure that her hair is hiding her bruise of her face.

"Ji!",

she says, her eyes and voice, low.

Walking across her table, he takes his seat in front of her.

Smiling sarcastically, he says,

"Aap jhoot badey itminaan se bol deti hain!"

This skips another of Meher's heartbeat. Has he got to know the truth? She wonders! She gets nervous.

"I mean aise...!"

"Apki Khala kal nahi, aaj Srinagar se wapas ayi hain!",

he declares, smiling sarcastically.

"Am I right?",

he asks, smiling sarcastically still.

Meher looks heavenwards! Praying silently to end this conversation here!

She is stuck now, she needs to say something!

"Haan wo... ek family emergency thi!",

she lies again, trying to look towards Naushad as less as possible.

"A... main apko samjha nahi payi!",

she adds further.

"Isliye apne jhoot bol diya?",

he says plainly, sarcasm evident in his voice. Hurt evident in his voice.

Before she could say anything, her phone vibrates. She checks the name it's Jannat! Naushad tries to read the name but fails.

"I am sorry I'll have to take this!",

she says and takes the call as a means of escape.

Naushad who is completely aware of the fact that she is trying to avoid the discussion, sarcastically encourages her to pick the call, saying,

"Please...!",

indicating with his hand to pick up the call, sarcastic smile plastered on his face throughout.

It hurts Meher as she smells the sarcasm but she feels helpless. Getting into the empty room, she ends the call as she is in no mood to talk to anyone. It wasn't any important call at first place!

Unaware that he has followed her into the room, Naushad's voice skips Meher's heartbeat,

"Dr. Mirza!",

his voice soft, understanding.

"Boyfriend hona koi gunah nahi hai!",

he says, keeping aside all his emotions - hurt, frustration, anguish, melancholy.

Meher chooses to stay quiet.

Naushad continues,

"Lekin jab aap jhoot bolne lage; aur wo apke kaam mein khalal dalne lagey to..."

Meher intervenes, never turning to look towards him,

"Dr. Rizvi mera koi boyfriend nahi hai!",

she states clearly.

Shutting her eyes, she takes a deep breath. Opening them she justifies more,

"Main Khala ki mehndi aur Id ke liye aaj jaldi fahrukh hona chahungi, if that's okay?"

Knowing that she is still hiding something from him, frustration surges through him. He rejects her request, punishing her for being stubborn in front of him.

"Apki shift panch bajey tak hai aur mehndi nau baje!",

he states in a single breath, making it clear that he knows at least everything about this, if not everything about her, so she cannot befool him here!

"Aap tayar ho chuki hain! Aur roza hum sub ke saath yahan tod sakti hain!",

his each word reflects his increasing anger towards Meher.

Meher's heartbeat picks up pace. She feels guilty for hurting him, but she has no other option but to show her stubborness in front of him. It is hurting her too to hurt him!

"Apni extra curricular activities ke liye please don't misuse our friendship!",

his final words pierce her heart.

"Dr. Rizvi it's a family emergency!",

she clarifies, feeling offended.

"Meri tafteesh kyun ho rahi hai?",

she asks, acting to be pissed off! Inside she understands why this is affecting him!

Glaring her, trying to control his increased rate of heartbeat, Naushad states clearly, grinding his teeth out of anger,

"Mujhe iss kism ke jhootey games pasand nahi hai Dr. Mirza!"

Meher's heart skips a beat! She knows he is innocent and he doesn't deserve this treatment from her. She feels guilty. Her cheeks turns crimson red out of guilt. Guilt about hiding the truth from Naushad.

"Khaskar doston ke saath!",

he finishes, lowering his eyes out of hesitation as he understands she is just not a friend to him...!

Her phone buzzes again and she makes it a medium to escape him, again!

"Excuse me!",

she says and leaves, making sure that he doesn't get to see her face.

Reaching the entrance of the room she receives the call and in a low voice says,

"Hello!... haan aa rahi hun main... two minutes...!"

Naushad hears it all and turns to look in front, his anger towards her persists!

She ends the call and never look back towards Naushad she says,

"Dr. Rizvi I am sorry!"

This drags Naushad's attention, he looks towards her.

"Meri Dr. Wali se baat ho chuki hai. Ke baad main double shift kar lungi, par aaj mujhe jana hoga!",

she says.

He knows that she understands everything what's brewing up between them but still her adamant self won't leave her! The thought increases his anger and he taunts her,

"Jaiye...!",

he stares her, then taunts further,

"It's okay!...",

when they both thought that it's the end of their conversation, Naushad gets this urge to add another three words that's exactly what he does,

"And please enjoy!",

sarcasm evident in his words and tone of speaking!

Meher chooses to stay quiet and leaves before they end up continuing the conversation further.

~*~*~

Meher returns back to the canteen and occupies the same table again.

After few moments Naushad enters the canteen too and walks to the table occupied by Meher.

"May I?",

asks Naushad, if he is allowed to sit with her or not.

His voice again, skips her heartbeat. She rolls her eyes and allows him,

"Please!"

"Thank you!",

says Naushad, occupying his seat.

Meher ignores to look towards him but Naushad keeps staring her, trying to read her, his elbows rested on the table such that his arms are standing horizontally, his fingers intertwined and resting on his lips.

Meher feels uncomfortable under his constant gaze. She starts fidgeting at her seat. Naushad notices all but never ends the stare!

Meher wonders why is he not saying anything, if he needs to! And if not, so why not he just ends with his staring her? Her heartbeat picks up pace.

Sighing, Naushad says,

"Apne juzzbaatt ko apne doston ke samne bayan karna. Unse apne juzzbaatt batne mein koi burayi nahi hai Dr. Mirza"

"Dr. Mirza?",

laughs Meher, sarcastically and looks towards him.

Her sarcasm pierces Naushad's heart.

Laughing sarcastically still, she says,

"Mujhe laga tha ab main apke liye Meher ho gayi hun? Sirf Meher!"

Naushad feels guilty about addressing her as Dr. Mirza.

"Fasle mehsus ho rahe hain mujhe!",

says Naushad, calmly.

"Aur aap koshish bhi nahi karenge inn faslon ki wajah dhundhne ki?",

asks Meher.

This irks Naushad.

Intertwining his fingers, his arms laid horizontally on the canteen table, knitting his brows, he says,

"Aap mujhe apne paas ana to durr... meri taraf aap dekh bhi nahi rahin! Ab aap hi batayiye ke iss bartaw ka main kya matlab nikalun?"

Staring him for sometimes, Meher changes her vision to her right, ignoring to look towards Naushad,

"Naushad please dheere boliye.",

she whispers.

"Mere tez bolne se apko problem ho rahi hai, to aap ye sochiye ke apke khamosh rehne se mujhe kitni bechaini ho rahi hogi?",

says Naushad.

This attracts Meher's attention. She stares him, knitting her brows. A knot forms in her throat. They stare each other. Naushad waits for her to say something, hoping that she understands his emotions about the situation.

"Mujhe thoda waqt dijiye.",

says Meher.

"Kis baat ke liye?",

asks Naushad.

Meher stares him, with this question Naushad succeeds in triggering her emotion of hurt and frustration.

Lowering her eyes, controlling her emotions, she says,

"Apko sub batane ke liye!"

Naushad stares her quietly for sometime, his brows knit together. Meher hesitates to look towards him, aware of his eyes on her.

"Theek hai diya!",

he says, calmly, never looking away from her, his brows still knit.

Meher relaxes a wee bit, hoping that this discussion is finished for now, that his next question skips her heartbeat and takes her juzzbaatt to another level!

"Bus aap mujhe ek baat bata dein...",

he says.

Meher stares him.

Never ending the eye contact, he brings out something from his pocket and places it on the table that they are sharing, his hand rested on the corner of the article he brought out,

"Iski apko zarurat kyun parh gayi?",

he asks, looking straight towards her, with knitted brow.

Meher's heart skips a beat! Her heartbeat picks up pace as her eyes rest on her discarded packet of contraceptive pills!

She stares at him in disbelief!